Controlling those ~*#+@!% Spiders Inside the Cabin!

journey on · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:35 am Post subject:

Joe,

Get a RAID fogger and set it off inside the boat. We do that on Journey On a couple times a year, and it cleans out the inside. Any mice in there will go also. Do that a couple of times and you should have the problem solved. Apparently gets the eggs also.

I also use it in the garage/shop and I'm usually surprised at what I find afterward. Especially black widows. Oh, I understand you don't have those up there. We do.

By the whats wrong with using D-Con for mice/rats/ground squirrels? Just keep it in a bait trap so dogs can't get at it.

Boris

Sea Wolf · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 12:56 pm Post subject:

Wow! Tons of ideas here! Will have to make a list and then prioritize my approach, both inside and outside the boat.

The problem is that they return very quickly, especially during the warm months when insects are plentiful and when when they "balloon" (float) around on web structures intended to migrate with the wind. Plus they are all over the marina roof structure, and I'm on the outermost corner and catch more than my share of incoming beasties.

They also work their way inside, of course.

Insect aerosol bombs will work great, but can't imagine using them every week.

Will fog the interior once, then use No-Pest strips and sticky traps to hold the line, hopefully.

I'll spray the Demand CS on all the external parts of the boat to eliminate the insect food source as much as possible. I had read abut the contact poision not working with spiders because they don't clean their feet, but instead thry first bite to paralyze their prey, then just suck the liquids out of their victims.

The use of d-Con for rats and mice is fine, I just don't want to kill any other transient creatures or have rats or mice die on my boat, especially in inaccessible places. Fortunately, I don't have rats or mice myself, just trying to help Warren out with his question. Wouldn't want to kill my river otter friends.

Fortunately, the winter is coming, so the problem will become more manageable with the lower temperatures and the hibernating of the insect and spider populations.

Thanks for the wealth of ideas!

Joe. Teeth

Dreamer · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:09 pm Post subject:

Apparently, Demand CS is not a regular insecticide. All the spiders I see in my garage have 8 little legs pointing skyward! They just have to come in contact with it and it's absorbed.

BrentB · Posted: Tue Sep 16, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

You can also place insecticide powder into small disposable dishes (catsup paper cup, coffee lids, etc) and place in various locations to prevent easy access by pets or humans.

Sea Wolf · Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 4:40 pm Post subject:

Good News!

Three weeks and NO SPIDERS!

I sprayed the DEMAND CS on the boat and haven't seen a spider on it since, Currently, I'm waiting it out to see how long one spraying lasts under the conditions at the marina. Sprayed it into my lockers and dock box as well.

The dilution is incredible 0.8-1.5 ml per liter (1000 ml), or about 0.1 %!!!

And it doesn't seem to leave spots, either!

Also, I put the No Pest Strip inside the cabin along with afresh load of Bounce fabric softener tissues, and the only spider there was a dead one on his back laying down in the galley sink!

Gotta love these chemical wonder workers.

Thanks for all the advice and links, guys!

Dr. Strangechem, Arachnofanticist

Patrout · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 3:11 am Post subject:

CHEMISTRY RULES! Twisted Evil

But if you wanna go organic, try putting a few bundles of eucalyptus leaves in the corners. The DIY channel claims it keeps the spiders out.

Pat

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BrentB · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 3:07 pm Post subject:

Swee Pea · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject:

Does anyone have any experience with those plug in mouse/bug repellants that emit a high frequency sound to keep mice and bugs out of the house? Since many of us keep plugged into shore power, would this be a useful and safe method of repelling the little boogers?

John
Swee Pea

Wandering Sagebrush · Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 9:35 am Post subject:

My experience with the high frequency emitters is that they do nothing at all. I put a repeating mouse trap in my motorhome, barn, back porch within a foot of one of those sonic repellent devices and caught mice in every location - right next to the so-called repellent.

After Pat's input on insect poisons, I went to Wal-Mart and got a gallon spray jug of their insecticide and it does, indeed kill insects for weeks. I don't know how much rain it will take to wash it off. As near as I could tell from the instructions/warnings it was not harmful to marine life.

Mice do not like the smell of mothballs, so you could store some of your lines (ones that will not be in the cabin) and fenders in a bag with a mothball and that would stop mice from climbing aboard on them. I got a lubricant spray called "Mouse Out" at NAPA auto parts store in a small town that was originally designed for lubricating aircraft landing gear and contains that camphor smell to keep rodents from climbing aboard and chewing up the hydraulic/electric lines. The local farmers use that on all their equipment, spraying the wheel areas/ brake lines, etc., to keep rodent damage down.

You don't want to use any of the mothball stuff where ppl will spend a great deal of time since it is very toxic to humans.

The only other "best fix" and one you probably need to do for mice, especially in the Fall when they are all migrating to warmer habitat, is the small poison bait bags. I had mice chew up a projection TV and the controls on a treadmill and could only stop it by placing bait bags under or inside the appliances. Mice go for warm places. The battery charger warmth seems to attract them, so put a bait bag in the back of that area. Water heater does also, but probably not used in wintertime.

John

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

Mice also don't like the fabric softner sheets. Don't get the "non scented" type, I think it's the scent they don't care for. They smell a lot better than moth balls too, at least to humans.. Laughing

Charlie

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 12:13 pm Post subject:

My older half sis was an Air Force wife for 22 years and she always put bars of scented soap in with clothes, sheets, etc, claiming that kept bugs and mice out. She also maintained that the soap lasted longer after having dried out before use.

John

BrentB · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 3:49 pm Post subject:

fyi
moth balls can be toxic to pets and children when ingested.

Be careful where you place them.

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

Agree Brent, that's why we favor the dryer sheets. If it doesn't kill/chase away the furry beasts, at least they'll be soft, fuzzy and smell better.. Shocked

charlie

BrentB · Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject:

thank you Charlie
Here is the link for Bounce MSDS
http://pgpro.com/Portals/0/images/msds/Bounce_-_All_Varieties_Except_FREE.pdf

Read section 2